Air New Zealand (Air NZ) will exercise options on two Boeing 787-9s, taking its total commitment of the type to 12.
In a statement, the airline says that the two 787s will be delivered in late 2017 and the second half of 2018 respectively.
Air NZ chief executive Christopher Luxon says that the investment in the new aircraft has been made possible due to the carrier's strong commercial performance.
“Air New Zealand is very committed to the Boeing 787-9. The aircraft is a key component in our growth strategy. These new aircraft will provide us with additional flexibility as we move forward with our growth plans,” he says.
Flightglobal’s Ascend Fleets database shows that the airline has three of the type in service, and seven more on firm order. After the two options are firmed, it will still have six more 787 options remaining.
Air NZ’s 787s currently fly on services from Auckland to Perth, Shanghai and Tokyo. The airline is also planning to deploy the type on services to Honolulu and Tahiti in 2015.
“The entry into service programme has gone very smoothly and we’ve been incredibly pleased with the aircraft’s performance,” Luxon adds. “ Feedback from customers has also been very positive with many commenting on the cabin fit out, our new inflight product and entertainment system.”
Source: Cirium Dashboard
